Sunday, September 2, 2007

1970's Flashback: Firestorm

Created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom, Firestorm #1 was published in March 1978. This distinctive superhero was unique in that he was the integrated dual identity of high school student Ronnie Raymond and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Martin Stein. The two were caught in a nuclear accident that fused them into the "nuclear man" Firestorm. Since Prof. Stein was unconscious during the accident, Ronnie Raymond's personality was in command of their "merged" Firestorm form, with Stein adding a voice of reason inside his mind. Humorous banter between the two was a hallmark of their recorded adventures.

Firestorm's powers, include flight, superhuman strength and control over matter itself. His visual appearance, with (literally) flaming hair and a distinctive red and yellow costume also makes him stand out from the pack. Although he was a late 70's addition to DC Comics roster, he proved popular enough to be inducted into the Justice League of America.

No comments:

How it all began ....

In 1933, publishers at Eastern Color Press, intent to make better use of their printing equipment (which frequently sat idle between jobs), came up with the idea of printing an 8-page comic section that could be folded down from the large broadsheet to a smaller 9-inch by 12-inch format. The result was the first modern comic book. Containing reprints of newspaper comic strips, this experimental comic book titled "Funnies On Parade" was given away for free. It proved so popular that the following year Eastern published "Famous Funnies" and took the bold step of selling the comic for ten cents through chain stores. The enterprise was a smashing success and Eastern began churning out numerous reprints on a monthly basis. Other publishers, eager to get in on the profits, jumped on the bandwagon and the comic book industry was born!